The Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup continues with a particularly intriguing matchup in Dallas, where Ivory Coast faces Norway with a spot in the Round of 16 at stake (8:00 p.m.).

Ivory Coast is making history, as this is its first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout stage. Emers Fae’s team advanced as the second-place finisher in its group, showcasing a well-balanced squad with a strong defense and an effective offense. The Africans defeated Ecuador (1-0), suffered a narrow loss to Germany (2-1), and closed out the group stage with a comfortable 2-0 win over Curaçao.

On the other side, Ståle Solbakken’s Norway has returned to the World Cup finals after 28 years and relies heavily on the finishing prowess of Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward has already scored four goals in the tournament, leading Norway to victories over Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2), before suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to France.

Ivory Coast boasts quality options on offense, with Amad Diallo and Yian Diomande posing the main threats. At the same time, their defensive stability is a major asset, having kept three clean sheets in their last five matches.

Norway, on the other hand, has defensive weaknesses, having kept a clean sheet only once in its last ten matches. However, the quality of Martin Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth, and especially Haaland gives them the ability to score against any opponent.

The winner of this matchup will face Brazil in the Round of 16, following the “Seleção’s” victory over Japan.

Probable Starting Lineups:

Ivory Coast (4-2-3-1): Fofana – Doué, Kosounou, Ousmane Diomandé, Konan – Sangaré – Amad Diallo, Kessié, Oulay, Yann Diomandé – Nicolas Pépé.

Norway (4-3-3): Niland – Aursnes, Ajer, Hegem, Meller Wolfe – Edegard, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge – Serlooth, Haaland, Nusa.

*photo source: AP